Pakistani child, who became overnight gymnastic sensation in impoverished southwest, eyes Olympic fame

GWADAR: Muhammad Hassan Shambay, a young gymnast, was attending the regular morning assembly at New Town Higher Secondary School in Gwadar, a coastal city in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, when he was called up by the principal and awarded a professional gymnastics suit and a training mat this week.

The seven-year-old, who is in kindergarten (KG), has become a household name in Gwadar after a video of him performing advanced gymnastic moves at an annual school event went viral on social media platforms like X and WhatsApp this month.

Shambay, who comes from a poor family, has been learning gymnastics for the last two years by watching online videos of an Indian YouTuber, ‘Aman Gymnast,’ and movies featuring Bollywood star, Tiger Shroff, who is widely known for his acrobatic stunts.

“Gymnastics became my passion when I was five. I started watching videos of Aman Gymnast and Tiger Shroff on my brother’s cell phone,” Shambay, who lives in a slum in Gwadar, told Arab News.

“I practiced at home without any trainer or safety gear, but now I can perform various gymnastic moves.”

Shambay, the third youngest among his seven siblings, has mastered challenging skills, including somersaults, backbend kickovers, cartwheels, handstands, split leaps, no-handed forward rolls and leg holds.

His mother, Saima, says she fully supports her son’s passion for gymnastics despite the family’s acute financial struggles.

“He used to watch gymnastics videos online with a neighbor’s child and that’s how his passion began,” she said.

Saima, who takes care of her seven children and her sick husband with financial support from relatives, says she supports her son as much as she can, but she does worry about his well-being.

“I am happy that my son has come this far,” she said. “We are supporting him as much as we can. As much as is in our hands.”

Shambay’s elder brother, 14-year-old Beberg, said they wanted him to study and become a doctor, but he was determined to pursue his dream of performing on an international stage.

“My father is ill and unable to work, so we barely meet our family’s financial needs,” Beberg told Arab News. “We’ve been supporting Hassan as much as we can, but gymnastics is an expensive sport that we can’t afford.”

He recalled how Shambay had broken his arm while practicing a somersault in their courtyard last year.

“After the accident, my mother urged him to quit because we couldn’t afford the medical expenses,” Beberg said. “But he refused to give up.”

Asked if he was aware of how dangerous the sport could be, Shambay replied: “Yes, but I have never been afraid of learning new skills.”

Abdul Karim, the principal of Shambay’s school, described him as a “bright but shy” student, who he said deserved the government’s support to excel in gymnastics.

“The school has been encouraging Hassan to build his confidence,” Karim told Arab News. “We want him [Hassan] to become an international gymnastics icon, but the young gymnast needs the government support.”

Shambay, the only gymnast in his family, dreams of representing Pakistan at the Olympics.

“There are many local athletes in Balochistan,” he said. “I [also] want to become a professional gymnast one day.”